White-crested Laughingthrush

White-crested Laughingthrush reflected in a mountain pool of water. Himalayan foothills, Nainital, Uttrakhand, India.

About the White-crested Laughingthrush:

The White-crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is a highly social and vocal bird found in forest and scrub from the Himalayan foothills to Southeast Asia. They have one of the widest ranges of all laughingthrushes meaning it is at minimal risk of extinction. Their native range includes India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, China, Vietnam, and Thailand.

They are typically found in foothill forests, up to elevations of 2000m. They favour dense, moist and shady jungle where they can hide from predators and take shelter from the sun. They will typically only come out of dense cover to feed on insects, grubs, fruits and seeds.  White-crested laughingthrushes are named after their characteristic white hood and raised crest. Females look almost identical to males but have a smaller crest and duller mantle.

Extended gallery of Asian Birdlife

Find out more about White-crested Laughingthrushes here.